Molded plastic container



15, 1957 H. M. KIKUCHI MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINER Filed June 5, 1953 INVENTOR. HARRY NJ'f/KUCH/ BY MAW A 7 TOR/VEVJ.

2,771,492 MOLDEDPLASTIC CONTAINER .H yM. .Kikuchi, Cleveland, on

Application June 5, 1953, Serial No. 359,920 2.0mm. c1. 50.41

This iuventionrelates as indicated toa molded plastic container, and more particularly to. a container; of a type suitable-for employment as a coin purse, compact or the like.

A well-known form of coin purse comprises a flat pouch ,usuallymore or less semhcircular; in shape andprovided prevent escape of such coins and also to embrace thev pouch portion when the purse is closed.

Purses and pouches of this type have generally been made of leather and, while very popular, have nevertheless had certain disadvantages. They are rather expensive for a small article of this nature and generally do not wear too well, like many leather articles frequently tending to come apart at the seams before the component parts are themselves worn out. Considerable hand work is involved in their manufacture.

It is accordingly a principal object of my invention to provide a purse or pouch of the general conformation indicated but molded inja single piece of flexible synthetic plastic.

Another object of my invention is to provide such molded plastic pouch or container which will close tightly and neatly and remain closed in a purse or pocket, yet be'readily openable when desired. e Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed draw- 7 ing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my new plastic article in closed condition; v

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of such, article opened;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken onthe line 33 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 on Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a portion of a gang mold showing the arrangement of the mold parts for the production of my new plastic purse or like article.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-4 of the drawing, my new molded plastic pouch or purse generally resembles the leather coin purses previously known but differs therefrom in certain important respects. As indicated, it is molded in unitary form in a single piece of plastic material without any stitching or the like to come United States Patent 0 ,anupstandingflange S-adapted. to embrace and grip the pouch portion '1 .when the tray" is folded to Fig. 1 position. The ends 4 and 5 of such flange 3 are spaced from the mouth of pouch 1 to leave an intervening portion '6 adapted to serve-as a hinge .and closure for the mouth of such pouch.

.A tab 7 is molded as an extension of thebase portion of pouch 1 at the end opposite to hinge 6and isprovided withan aperture 8 therethrough to permitthe article to be attachedto a key chain or the like. 1 The lip of flange -3 may desirably be notched at 9 to receive such-tab 7 in closely fitting and gripping engagement-when the pouch is closed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Inasmuch asthese plastic materials have a fairly high coefficient of friction, I this arrangement assists in securing thefarticle tightly 1 closed. The tab 7 nevertheless affords a convenient grip for the thumb and forefinger, facilitating opening of the pouch when desired.

A small aperture 10 may also be provided through the end wall of pouch portion 1' adjacent tab 7 to prevent formation of a vacuum when withdrawing the molded article from the mold as described below, and also to serve as auxiliary latching means in combination with a small lug or protuberance 11 formed on the inner face of flange 3 in position to interengage with such hole 10 when the article is folded to closed position (Fig. 3).

As best shown in Fig. 2, the wall 12 of pouch portion 1 will be slightly inset at 13' relative to wall or flange 3 of tray portion 2 so that when the article is folded to closed position, such flange 3 will tightly but precisely fit the outside of wall 12 without appreciable distortion.v

Now referring more particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawing, it will be seen that the portion of a plastic injection gang mold there shown is designed to mold the article in unitary form. The hole 8 in tab 7 will, however, be punched out after the article has been molded. Three mold parts 14, 15 and 16 are shown, parts 14 and 16 being secured together and defining the outer surfaces of the molded article and part 15 being a withdrawable insert. Part 15 defines the interior of the article, both pouch and tray, extension 17 defining the interior of the pouch 1. In this case the-pouch portion is shaped to permit withdrawal of such extension from the cavity derecurved form as shown in Fig. 5 (thetray and pouch' being at right angles) the purse is easily opened from Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 position, but nevertheless will stay closed in the pocket due to frictional engagement of the parts and the grip of notch 9 on tab 7 and/or the engagement of lug 11 in aperture 10.

The finished article may be employed for a variety of purposes such as a ladys compact or as a lens case as well as for the more usual purpose of a container for small coins.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1.A molded flexible plastic pouch having a tray portion integral therewith adapted to project outwardly from the mouth of said pouchjancl comprising an extension of one side of said pouch, said pouch comprising two generally parallel side portions joined by an arcuate wall portion, a flange on said tray about the edge thereof projecting generally normal thereto and adapted snugly to embrace said pouch wall portion when said tray is flexed against the latter, the ends of said flange being spaced from the mouth of said pouch and said flange following an arcuate contour corresponding to that of the outer side of said pouch wallportion to enable it thus snugly to embrace the latter, a tab extending from the end of said pouch opposite to the mouth thereof, the

portion of the free edge of said flange which is opposed 20 thereto in closed position being notched and dimensioned to receive and laterally frictionally' to grip said tab, and a small lug raised on the inner side of said flange adjacent such notch, said pouch wall portion adjacent said tab having a small aperture therein positioned to engage said lug.

2. A moldedfiexible plastic pouch having a tray portion integral therewith adapted to project outwardly from the mouth of said pouch and comprising an extension of one side of said pouch, said pouch comprising two generally parallel side portions joined by an arcuate wall portion, a flange on said tray about the edge thereof projecting generally normal thereto and adapted snugly to embrace said pouch wall portion when said tray is flexed against the latter, the ends of said flange being spaced from the mouth of said pouch and said flange following an arcuate contour corresponding to that of the outer side of said pouch wall portion to enable it thus snugly to embrace the latter, and a tab extending from the end of said pouch opposite to the mouth thereof, the portion of the free edge of said flange which is opposed thereto in closed position being notched and dimensioned to receive and laterally frictionally to grip said tab.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 587,160 Pitz July 27, 1897 1,630,446 Nicklin May 31, 1927 2,181,806 Fulton Nov. 28, 1939 2,442,368 Maynard June 1, 1948 2,504,850 Lermcr Apr. 18, 1950 2,527,339 Tamoschat Oct. 24, 1950 2,559,528 Barrett July 3, 1951 2,578,719 Mayor et al Dec. 18, 1951 2,631,631 Vogel Mar. 17, 1953 2,687,157 Oowan Aug. 24, 1954 

